Musk asks to move $1 million lottery case to federal court

Musk is under scrutiny over monetary rewards offered to voters.

Last Updated: October 31, 2024, 8:19 AM EDT

Six days until Election Day, much of the political debate is about "garbage."

First, the backlash over a comedian's racist comments about Puerto Rico that former President Donald Trump has not apologized for -- and now President Joe Biden appearing to call Trump's supporters "garbage" and stepping on Vice President Kamala Harris' message of unity aimed at attracting disaffected Republicans.

Oct 31, 6:09 am

More than 59 million Americans have voted early

As of 5:45 a.m. on Thursday, more than 59 million Americans have voted early, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

Of the total number of early votes, 31,018,125 were cast in person and 27,952,363 were returned by mail.

Voters make selections at their voting booths inside an early voting site on Oct. 17, 2024 in Hendersonville, N.C.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

Oct 30, 2024, 7:22 PM EDT

Trump rides to WI campaign stop in garbage truck

Days after a comedian labeled Puerto Rico a "pile of garbage" at Donald Trump's MSG rally, the former president rode to a Green Bay, Wisconsin, rally in a Trump-marked garbage truck Wednesday.

Trump continued to bash President Joe Biden's response to the controversial moment from the MSG rally in which he said that Trump's supporters were garbage.

Biden clarified his comments and Vice President Kalama Harris told reporters, "I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for."

Trump, however, told reporters while riding in the garbage truck that “250 million people are not garbage."

Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump speaks to the members of the media, as he sits in a garbage truck, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Oct. 30, 2024.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters

“I can tell you who the real garbage is but I will not say that,” he continued.

Trump falsely claimed there was corruption in Pennsylvania.

Later pressed if he would accept election results if there’s no evidence of fraud, Trump reiterated claims about Pennsylvania, and then said, "If they find no evidence of cheating anywhere, I’ll accept it."

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he sits in a garbage truck, Oct. 30, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Pressed on a potential role Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could play in his administration, Trump vaguely said he would work with him but while not confirming that he’d be given the top Health and Human Services job.

“We'll work with him, and he's a very talented guy. He wants women's health. He wants health for people, and we're going to work with him. He's a very, very talented guy," Trump said.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Kelsey Walsh and Soo Rin Kim

Oct 30, 2024, 6:44 PM EDT

Philly hearing on Musk lawsuit moved up to Thursday

The judge overseeing the lawsuit against Elon Musk and his $1 million dollar giveaway to registered voters who sign a petition supporting the First and Second amendments has moved up a hearing in the case to Thursday at 10 a.m., bumping it up from Friday, according to a new order.

The order from Judge Angelo Foglietta states that "all parties must be present."

Earlier Wednesday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner asked the court to "enhance its security" for the hearing.

Krasner said Musk's post about the case on X has "triggered an avalanche of posts." including "antisemitic attacks" against the prosecutor.

-ABC News' Olivia Rubin

Oct 30, 2024, 6:33 PM EDT

Thank you cookies to NC election workers prompts hazmat response

A thank you present of pineapple-shaped cookies delivered to the Wake County Board of Elections in North Carolina prompted a hazmat response on Tuesday after election workers raised concerns about a suspicious package mailed from Hawaii.

“We are just on high alert with these things automatically,” said Wake County elections specialist Danner McCulloh, who cited recent incidents of suspicious packages containing powder sent to election offices across the country.

PHOTO: In this photo released by the Raleigh Police Department, a thank-you present of pineapple-shaped cookies delivered to the Wake County Board of Elections is shown that prompted a hazmat response on Oct. 29, 2024.
In this photo released by the Raleigh Police Department, a thank-you present of pineapple-shaped cookies delivered to the Wake County Board of Elections is shown that prompted a hazmat response on Oct. 29, 2024, after election workers raised concerns about a suspicious package mailed from Hawaii.
Raleigh Police Department

The Raleigh Police and Fire Departments quickly responded to the incident and bomb technicians x-rayed the package, according to Lt. Jason Borneo of the Raleigh Police Department.

After the package was deemed to not be a threat, emergency responders opened the package to learn it was full of cookies shipped from the Honolulu Cookie Company. The operations at Wake County Board of Elections were not impacted during the incident, a county spokesperson said.

According to McCulloh, a person who heard a radio story about Wake County decided to send the cookies unannounced to thank election workers.

“It was a kind gesture,” McCulloh said, though he recommended against others sending cookies to his office.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous

Oct 30, 2024, 6:25 PM EDT

Harris brings her closing argument to Pennsylvania: ‘Turn the page’

Harris brought her “closing argument” to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, highlighting what she said is a clear contrast between her and Trump, and encouraging voters to cast their ballots in the election’s final days.

“We know we have an opportunity in this election to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other. That is who he is. But Pennsylvania, that is not who we are,” Harris said, swapping out "America" for "Pennsylvania" from her speech at the Ellipse the night before.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at a campaign event at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Oct. 30, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa.
Matt Slocum/AP

Harris was interrupted several times by pro-Palestinian protesters.

“We are six days out of an election. We are six days away from an election. And ours is about a fight for democracy. And your right to be heard. That is what is on the line in this election. That is what is on the line in this election,” Harris said as she was being jeered by a protestor holding up a large Palestinian flag.

“Look, everybody has a right to be heard. But right now, I am speaking. And one of the biggest issues that folks around the country want to talk about and hear is about how we are going to bring down the price of living for working people," she said.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie

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